Six Reasons to Visit Trentham

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Posted 2013-07-18 by Nadine Cresswell-Myatt ⇒ follow

After visiting the tiny hamlet of Trentham you will probably stare longingly at the properties in the real estate agent's window because you can't help thinking, "Gee this is such a great place to visit, I wouldn't mind living here."

And because Trentham is mid-way between Woodend and Daylesford, approximately an hours drive from Melbourne, it wouldn't be so far-fetched.

Coffee and a Bun at Red Beard Bakery

Number one reason for me would have to be the coffee. Here is a country town where you could wake up every morning, walk down the street, buy the paper and then have a really good brew. Red Beard Bakery, where I love to go for coffee, won't even compromise on the milk. "Could I have a skinny cap please?" "No, we only use full cream milk."

I am glad they are sticklers because their coffee tastes wonderful - even better with one of their cinnamon and sugar encrusted buns.

They even run regular sourdough baking workshops.

Red Beard is doing for Trentham what the Castlemaine bakery did for Castlemaine -- putting a previously little-known township on the tourist map. Word of mouth travels faster than a red Ferrari down the freeway.

Explore some gold mining history

Red Beard Bakery uses a Scotch oven that dates back to 1892 to bake their perfect sour dough bread, but that is only one of the historical aspects of this fascinating little township.

There are the remains of old gold diggings scattered throughout the surrounding bush. There is an old police station and slab lock-up in Camp Street behind the modern police station. There are also two original Bills horse troughs in Trentham, one near the rotunda and the other by the old butcher's shop in Market Street near High Street.

The Trentham Historical Society have published local history booklets including 'Take a Walk Around Trentham'. These are available at the news agency and the Information Centre at the old railway station.

Walk the Old Railway Line

The Domino Trail is an easy eight kilometre walk that follows the old railway line from the Trentham heritage listed railway station (no longer in use) into the Wombat Forest. The trail loops around and returns to the station, or you can continue on to Lyonville along the old railway route. This is great for cyclists as well. There is a great pub their called Radio Spings Hotel , which claims to be the centre of the universe and I do believe it is.

View the Thunderous Trentham Falls

Most falls in Victoria are mere trickles. Trentham Falls on the other hand is the highest single drop in the state so you can be assured of plenty of splash as they plummet 32 metres over the basalt cliffs. Quite a sight.

Explore the Main Drag

The main drag is an eclectic mix of great restaurants, vintage stores and cafes. In and just off the main street, you will find all kinds of boutique shops, crafts, antique shops, and artisan galleries. Annie Smithers' new cafe du Fermier serves French farmhouse cuisine. There is the Cosmopolitan Hotel , which was damaged in 2005 by fire, that they are doing up beautifully, starting with a new bar in the old stables. They also offer free live music on Sunday afternoons

Chaplins at the Muse is worth a visit not only for the great coffee but for the local tasting plate which includes chorizo sausage, proscuitto, Meredith's goat's cheese, red chilli jam, home made pickled artichokes and RedBeard sourdough bread.

It sets you up for the local produce market so you know what foodstuffs to buy

Visit a market

Trentham has three different markets On the third Saturday of each month there is a craft market at the station where they sell all kinds of creative stuff including garden ornaments, soaps, handknits, wooden toys, kids clothes, and scatter cushions. This is aptly called Trenthamade. Also on the thirrd Saturday of every month, you'll find local and organic produce at the Farmer's Market such as dairy and goat's cheeses, eggs, preserves, olive products, fruit and locally brewed beer. A Trash & Treasure market operates on the fourth Sunday of the month.

Plenty to do, plenty to chew and only an hour from the city.